Sookie

I got Sookie yesterday (June 11) she ( just an assumption) she is 3.5 feet long and 7 years old. She was with the same owner for the 7 years but they had rehome her. I haven’t had a ball python in a very long time and the one only had it for a short period of time.

On to what o actually wanted to ask. I fed her yesterday one thawed mouse. She was fed the week before that too. and she still seems quite hungry or nervous. Anytime my hand goes in her enclosure she comes so far out of her tree to watch why I am doing and sometimes does the same if I am just looking in at the temps and at her. And she spends almost all day lid like this https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0e4c49ba22.jpg inside her tree which is on the cooler side of her enclosure. Is she still adjusting or is she hungry? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0c85709f17.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3e9f1cfaa1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bc7ce24df8.jpg


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First off, welcome to the forum and back to the hobby.

If she's that old and large a mouse is definitely not enough food. She should be eating small or medium rats.

If she's acting a bit nervous, it could be because her enclosure is pretty wide open. I would cover the sides as well as the back to improve her sense of security.
I'd also add some clutter to the enclosure, using fake plants, tree branches, rocks, etc...

It's also recommended to have 2 identical hides. With different hides the snake may choose one over the other for security and will sacrifice thermoregulation in favor of security.

Also, I only see 1 wire in the pics...are your heat sources regulated by a thermostat?

Would two adult mice be ok to feed at a time. I am going to be breeding my own mice as I already had two female pet mice anyway. And there is a heating pad and a heat lamp. The gages on the warmer side say the temp is 80 and the humidity is about 68


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Originally Posted by Parsons483

Would two adult mice be ok to feed at a time. I am going to be breeding my own mice as I already had two female pet mice anyway. And there is a heating pad and a heat lamp. The gages on the warmer side say the temp is 80 and the humidity is about 68


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Yes, you can feed multiple mice. Most people prefer rats since you only need to feed one. It ends up being easier and cheaper. But in your situation the mice are fine if that's what you choose.

It's EXTREMELY important to regulate ALL heat sources with a thermostat. It's literally the most important piece of equipment you can have.
Unregulated heat mats can spike to over 120° and cause serious burns or even death.
Heat lamps can also spike and be fatal.

Oh, and if you're talking dial style analog thermometers they are unfortunately I junk and wildly inaccurate. They can be off by as much as 15% or 15°.
You'll want to get digitals if you don't already have them.

80° is too cool for the warm side. You should be aiming for 84 ambient, 78-80 cool and a hot spot of 88-89 measured with a temp gun.

I will order one. But are those temps fine? Under that log is where the heating pad is and I laid my hand on it and it didn’t seem hot. I had to put her in a room that has a tendency to get a little cool


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Parsons483

I will order one. But are those temps fine? Under that log is where the heating pad is and I laid my hand on it and it didn’t seem hot. I had to put her in a room that has a tendency to get a little cool


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Sorry, I edited my reply before seeing yours. Please see above.
And unfortunately, your hand can't be trusted to check temps.

And you don't want temps below 75° at all

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Yes, you can feed multiple mice. Most people prefer rats since you only need to feed one. It ends up being easier and cheaper. But in your situation the mice are fine if that's what you choose.

It's EXTREMELY important to regulate ALL heat sources with a thermostat. It's literally the most important piece of equipment you can have.
Unregulated heat mats can spike to over 120° and cause serious burns or even death.
Heat lamps can also spike and be fatal.

Oh, and if you're talking dial style analog thermometers they are unfortunately I junk and wildly inaccurate. They can be off by as much as 15% or 15°.
You'll want to get digitals if you don't already have them.

80° is too cool for the warm side. You should be aiming for 84 ambient, 78-80 cool and a hot spot of 88-89 measured with a temp gun.

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Sorry didn’t see the other half of your reply. Yeah they are the zoo med oneshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7348e5a4b5.jpg
Ok so I should turn up the heat lamp?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Parsons483

Sorry didn’t see the other half of your reply. Yeah they are the zoo med oneshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7348e5a4b5.jpg
Ok so I should turn up the heat lamp?


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Yeah, you'll need to replace those thermometers/hygrometers. They're honestly useless and I can't believe they're still sold.

Honestly, you should unplug the heat mat asap until you get a thermostat. Google search snake burns if you need to see how bad those heat mats can get.

Depending on the temps in the room the snake is in you may be better off shutting all the heat. They handle cold better than hot

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Yeah, you'll need to replace those thermometers/hygrometers. They're honestly useless and I can't believe they're still sold.

Honestly, you should unplug the heat mat asap until you get a thermostat. Google search snake burns if you need to see how bad those heat mats can get.

Depending on the temps in the room the snake is in you may be better off shutting all the heat. They handle cold better than hot

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Ok thanks. My digital thermometer is reading 72 on the warmer side


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I'll add in for emphasis.. Craig is 100% right on tstat and the thermometers. No heat source should ever be used without a thermostat to control it. (Not to mention the fire hazard unregulated heat sources pose)

Here's a video showing the temps heat mats can achieve unregulated in a very short time:
https://youtu.be/NcGJaHVF72w

Also, here is an example from a recent post somewhere of a burned ball python from an unregulated heat mat. This is a severe burn with potentially infection and other stuff going on.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...69bfbf0426.jpg

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